Enhancing India’s Open Science Infrastructure: A Case Study of I-STEM Portal | OSSAN 2022

OSSAN (Open Science South Asia Network) session description: "Background: Indian researchers, particularly those who are working as grassroots innovators, independent experimental researchers, or working with resource-poor setups in non-metropolitan cities and towns, often require scientific instruments and scientific facilities not available to them. There is a need for a gateway for innovators/researchers to locate the specific type of facility they need for their R&D work and to identify the one that is either located closest to them or available the soonest. Problem statement: This paper will focus on how an open science infrastructure in India can enhance scientific productivity and research experiments, expanding the use of scientific instruments and facilities available with centrally-funded R&D institutions. Results: During the Indian Science Congress of 2020, the Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM) I-STEM portal was launched by the Honourable Prime Minister as the national web portal for sharing R&D facilities. This paper will be presented as a case study that evaluates the functions and usability of the I-STEM portal. Solution/Conclusion: The usability of the I-STEM portal can be enhanced substantially if more scientific institutions (both central and state-level) share relevant data on scientific instruments and facilities available with them and enlarge the user community base. The user community should also get timely information on the new additions to the portal...." ANUP KUMAR DAS*, RABI SHANKAR GIRI** *Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India **Presidency University, Kolkata, India